Agriculture

About 15 curious Shelby County ladies were in attendance for a Plate it UP! workshop at the Shelby County Cooperative Extension Office Wednesday hoping to learn more about cooking with local produce.

The free class was made possible through a partnership between the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky School of Human Environmental Sciences.

The statewide program focuses on educating the community about locally grown foods and recipes that utilize them.

From family-owned local businesses to the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, Shelby County has something to offer just about anyone, whether they prefer a small-town life or a big city. But for those itching for a taste of both worlds, the Shelby County Cooperative Extension Office has them covered, too.

Starting Thursday, the extension office will begin a workshop series designed for the beginning small farmer with 5 to 20 acres.

It looks like this late turnip crop is going to be a good one thanks to cool temperatures and adequate rain fall.

I may even have some little ones ready in honor of Halloween this year, too, even though they will only be salad size. What does the turnip have to do with Halloween you may ask? Well, they just may be more authentic than that pumpkin on the porch.

Pumpkins have been for sale for weeks and children have decided on costumes but somewhere in the middle of it all is the story of All Hallow’s Eve.

The Shelby County Cooperative Extension Office opened its doors Tuesday afternoon for guests to participate in an array of hands-on activities during its annual open house event.

Activities included butter churning, sewing and Halloween crafts, and attendees had the opportunity to pet various animals like snakes, chickens and rabbits. Guests were also treated to quesadillas, smoothies, and pumpkin muffins.

Farming is the backbone of America and our daily survival depends on a farmer’s hard days labor. But despite the vital role they play in our lives, and especially in a largely rural community like Shelby County, many don’t know what happens in the day-to-day work on a farm.

This past weekend, however, the Shelby County Cooperative Extension hosted the 2nd Annual Shelby County Good Neighbors Farm Tour. Allowing more than 350 people to take a peek at a dozen of the typically hidden farms scattered throughout Shelby County.

All in all, we have had a decent summer with reasonable temperatures and adequate rainfall. I think the marker for the summer of 2014 can go to the weeds!

So as you address some fall weeding chores you may also want to do a little preening to give some of your annuals and perennials a facelift for fall.

As we descend into fall, annuals and perennials will rebound but first we need to get rid of the old, ragged growth. Several gardeners have told me they have given up on the season and thrown out their annual containers.